Front Porch » Environmental issues http://frontporch.seattle.gov Seattle Department of Neighborhoods news and events Wed, 22 May 2013 21:00:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 West Seattle Blog features Sunday’s Bee Parade http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/05/21/west-seattle-blog-features-sundays-bee-parade/ http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/05/21/west-seattle-blog-features-sundays-bee-parade/#comments Tue, 21 May 2013 18:07:31 +0000 Wendy Watson http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=3633 bee-garden-roxhill-kids3Check out the action from last Sunday’s Bee Festival Parade in West Seattle.  Neighborhood Matching Fund helped support this unique project.

http://westseattleblog.com/2013/05/video-big-parade-launches-west-seattle-bee-garden

]]> http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/05/21/west-seattle-blog-features-sundays-bee-parade/feed/ 0 Civic Cocktail Features Segment on Urban Agriculture http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/05/03/civic-cocktail-features-segment-on-urban-agriculture/ http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/05/03/civic-cocktail-features-segment-on-urban-agriculture/#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 18:53:08 +0000 Wendy Watson http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=3616  Laura Raymond from our P-Patch program answers questions on urban agriculture in this segment of Civic Cocktail, an event where a panel of pros discuss a range of topics and answer questions from a live audience. Civic Cocktail is a joint production of the Seattle Channel, Seattle City Club, and Crosscut.  Click here to watch.

]]> http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/05/03/civic-cocktail-features-segment-on-urban-agriculture/feed/ 0 Get the latest buzz on the West Seattle Bee Garden as reported in the West Seattle Blog http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/03/13/get-the-latest-buzz-on-the-west-seattle-bee-garden-as-reported-in-the-west-seattle-blog/ http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/03/13/get-the-latest-buzz-on-the-west-seattle-bee-garden-as-reported-in-the-west-seattle-blog/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:07:47 +0000 Wendy Watson http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=3535 Read the latest updates on this Neighborhood Matching Fund project, and see how you can help get  it ready for the bees grand arrival in May!   http://westseattleblog.com/

]]> http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/03/13/get-the-latest-buzz-on-the-west-seattle-bee-garden-as-reported-in-the-west-seattle-blog/feed/ 0 Congratulations to the Winners of CleanScapes Waste Reduction Rewards Competition! http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/02/12/congratulations-to-the-winners-of-cleanscapes-waste-reduction-rewards-competition/ http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/02/12/congratulations-to-the-winners-of-cleanscapes-waste-reduction-rewards-competition/#comments Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:47:27 +0000 Wendy Watson http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=3474 The neighborhoods of Wedgwood, Meadowbrook, Inverness, Matthews Beach and View Ridge won the 2011/2012 CleanScape’s Waste Reduction Rewards competition and will receive $50,000 towards a neighborhood project.  Click here to read more.

]]> http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/02/12/congratulations-to-the-winners-of-cleanscapes-waste-reduction-rewards-competition/feed/ 0 Call for Presentations for the American Community Gardening Assoc. National Conference http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/01/31/call-for-presentations-for-the-american-community-gardening-assoc-national-conference/ http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/01/31/call-for-presentations-for-the-american-community-gardening-assoc-national-conference/#comments Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:28:09 +0000 Wendy Watson http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=3453 In August, Seattle is hosting the American Community Gardening Association National Conference, an annual event showcasing community gardening and its place in the community food system. We are excited to highlight progressive gardening and greening activities in the Pacific Northwest and to learn about activities in other parts of the country and the world.

We invite all those interested in local, regional, national and international community gardening and urban agriculture to submit proposals for presentations, workshops and forums.  Proposals are due March 1, 2013.

The theme for the Seattle 2013 conference is Cultivating Community, Harvesting Health:  Community Gardens to Urban Farms.  We hope that your presentation will help illuminate the multitude of ways that community gardening and urban agriculture touch the community food system and build strong healthy communities!

Please see http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ppatch/events.htm for more details.

We hope to see you in Seattle in August of 2013!

]]> http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/01/31/call-for-presentations-for-the-american-community-gardening-assoc-national-conference/feed/ 0 Join your Neighbors for a Neighbor Appreciation Day Waterfront Clean-up! http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/01/17/join-your-neighbors-for-a-neighbor-appreciation-day-waterfront-clean-up/ http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/01/17/join-your-neighbors-for-a-neighbor-appreciation-day-waterfront-clean-up/#comments Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:03:13 +0000 Wendy Watson http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=3424 Meet your Downtown neighbors in celebration of Neighbor Appreciation Day on February 9 and help clean up the waterfront!  Councilmember Sally Bagshaw will be pitching in, supplies will be provided by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, and Ivars will be providing free lunch for members of the clean-up crew!  Click here for more information and to register.

]]> http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/01/17/join-your-neighbors-for-a-neighbor-appreciation-day-waterfront-clean-up/feed/ 0 Every Drop Counts: P-Patch Water Conservation Contest Results! http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/01/14/every-drop-counts-p-patch-water-conservation-contest-results/ http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/01/14/every-drop-counts-p-patch-water-conservation-contest-results/#comments Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:57:59 +0000 Wendy Watson http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=3414 In early 2011 the P-Patch program decided to hold a water conservation contest.  The goals were rooted not only in saving money for the program, but also in the ethic of conserving one of the most precious resources on earth.  The initial goal was to reduce water consumption by 10%.  We met our goal in 2011; however, this year we far surpassed it, reducing consumption by just under 20%.  That translates into a savings of 731,544 gallons of water! 

What accounted for the reduction?  Awareness of the initiative was the first step.  Each garden received a poster and spigot cards with guidelines for efficient watering.  Other factors included the use of rain catchment barrels and at some gardens, much larger rain collecting cisterns.  The collective effort of thousands of gardeners made a huge difference, especially during the drought-like months this past summer.

Water conservation is an ethic of the P-Patch program and we will continue our efforts to raise awareness and to provide resources to reduce our impact on the environment.  Due to the success of the contest we’ll continue to hold it in the foreseeable future. 

 The winners of the 2012 water contest are as follows:

1st Place:   Spring Street (4,488 gallons less than 2011=66% savings)
Prize:  $100 Gift certificate to Stewart Lumber

2nd Place:  Pelican (1496 gallons less than 2011 =50% savings)
Prize:  Garden Tool Package

3rd Place:  Cascade (14,960 gallons less 2011 = 40% savings)
Seattle Tilth’s NW Maritime Garden Guide

Honorable Mention:  The following sites saved at least 25 % as compared to last year.

Angel Morgan   25% = 10,472 gallons saved
Eastlake               37%= 41,888 gallons saved
Hawkins               32%= 6,732 gallons saved
Hazel Heights     33%= 2,244 gallons saved
Hillman                 25%= 18,700 gallons saved
Longfellow          38%= 3,740 gallons saved
Phinney               32%= 11,968 gallons saved

 Congratulations P-Patchers! 

 

]]> http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2013/01/14/every-drop-counts-p-patch-water-conservation-contest-results/feed/ 0 Celebrate Think Outside the Car http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2012/11/20/celebrate-think-outside-the-car/ http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2012/11/20/celebrate-think-outside-the-car/#comments Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:56:02 +0000 Wendy Watson http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=3334 West Seattle CoolMom and the Think Outside the Car Steering Committee invite you to celebrate our Neighborhood Matching Fund supported project 
Think Outside the Car!

Hosted by:
West Seattle CoolMom
Fauntleroy Church
9140 California Ave. SW
Seattle, WA 98136
Monday, December 1, 6:30-8:30PM

WHAT
Watch our
Think Outside the Car video

Share hors d’ oeuvres and beverages. Help Celebrate Our Volunteers.

RSVP
Terri Glaberson, Program Manager
terri@coolmom.org; 206-280-2828

 OTHER DETAILS

Childcare will be provided. A donation of $2/family would be greatly appreciated. Please indicate how many children you will be bringing.

Please Travel by bike, two feet, mass transit or carpool. Thank you!

]]> http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2012/11/20/celebrate-think-outside-the-car/feed/ 0 Calling for volunteers to help educate motorists about car idling http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2012/11/09/calling-for-volunteers-to-help-educate-motorists-about-car-idling/ http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2012/11/09/calling-for-volunteers-to-help-educate-motorists-about-car-idling/#comments Sat, 10 Nov 2012 00:04:52 +0000 Wendy Watson http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=3309 Volunteer on November 17 to help educate motorists about car Idling and help promote cleaner air. You can sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BACA82CA64-fauntleroy

Did you know that 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it? And, that an idling vehicle emits 20 times more pollution than one traveling 32 mph? 

On Saturday, November 17 Think Outside the Car volunteers will help educate motorists about car idling and hand out friendly take away reminders to turn off the car while waiting for the ferry.  The Think Outside the Car project has been building community, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting cleaner air through neighborhood schools and educating parents and students about the effects of car idling. The project has also helped schools start Walking School Buses- which is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. To find out more information about Walking School buses go here: http://coolmom.org/blog/walking-school-buses-in-west-seattle

Thank you to our sponsors: Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, CoolMom, and Safeway

Details:

Think Outside the Car-Fauntleroy Ferry Doc and line up
WHEN: Saturday, November 17, 2012 from 11:30 a.m to 4:30pm
WHERE: Fauntleroy Way SW, in the lower Lincoln Park parking lot 
(closest to the Fauntleroy Ferry Doc)

]]> http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2012/11/09/calling-for-volunteers-to-help-educate-motorists-about-car-idling/feed/ 0 Fiskars’ Project Orange Thumb seeks applications for community garden grants and makeovers http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2012/10/11/fiskars-project-orange-thumb-seeks-applications-for-community-garden-grants-and-makeovers/ http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2012/10/11/fiskars-project-orange-thumb-seeks-applications-for-community-garden-grants-and-makeovers/#comments Thu, 11 Oct 2012 19:58:26 +0000 Wendy Watson http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=3243 To help communities achieve their neighborhood beautification goals and support healthy, sustainable food sources, nonprofit organizations in the United States and Canada are invited to apply for ten grants of $5,000 and a complete garden makeover…. 
Deadline: December 15, 2012 
Posted: October 8, 2012

http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=395700006

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